This is America.
Hard working and ever loyal.
A half mile underground, grinding and striving.
Soot on his face and warmth in his heart.
I’d like to introduce you to Michael McGuire- husband, father, American.
140 miles southeast of Lexington it sits.
Pikeville, Kentucky is coal mining country, seven thousand residents strong, proud and true.
It was last Saturday night when the town folk made their way to Appalachian Wireless Arena.
Coach Calipari and the Wildcats were soon to arrive, as blue collar welcomed Kentucky Blue.
It was a year ago, and Pikeville’s Michael McGuire was working as a mail carrier.
His wife Mollie was a dispatcher, together with her husband trying to make ends meet.
Money was tight, as Mollie had just given birth to Lynlee, who joined then 2-year-old brother Easton.
“I need to make more money to support our family”, Michael said. “I’m going underground.”
It was three days ago, and Michael’s Saturday shift at Excel Mining was nearing an end.
Tired and dirty and dusty, Michael took a deep breath of fresh air and called his wife.
The Kentucky basketball scrimmage was set to tip off at 6 pm- he had no time to go home and shower.
Michael told his wife that he needed to be at the start of the game- it was Easton’s first-ever Kentucky basketball experience.
“I’ll take the kids to the arena and meet you there”, Mollie told her husband.
The plan? Mollie would find the family’s seats and Michael would join them.
“I knew Michael wanted to be at the arena before the tip”, Mollie tells me.
“It was so important for him to be with Easton when the scrimmage began.”
Sue Kinneer loves Kentucky basketball- always has, always will.
As she settled into her seat, she noticed a man that stood out from the sea of blue.
“The man was dirty, with soot on his face”, Sue tells me.
“He looked very tired, but he was smiling at his son, and his son was hugging him and climbing on him- they looked so happy.”
As Sue snapped a picture of Michael McGuire (top left), she was also snapping a picture of America.
Hard-working and ever loyal.
Soot on his face and warmth in his heart.
Sue posted the picture on social media.
It was yesterday when Kentucky Coach John Calipari took notice.
He Tweeted Sue’s picture, saying, “My family’s American dream started in a WV coal mine, so this picture hits home.”
“From what I’ve been told, after his shift he raced to be with his wife and son to watch our team.”
“I have tickets for him and his family at Rupp to be treated as VIP’s!”
America had fallen in love with a hard-working husband and father who is providing for his family.
The same father who months before had gathered clothes and household items and delivered them to flood victims.
“He really is the best dad ever”, Mollie says.
Michael and Mollie are looking over their calendar as they are deciding on which Wildcats game to attend.
“We are thinking of the Kentucky-Tennessee game, but we are so excited we may not be able to wait that long”, says Mollie with a chuckle.
“Coach Calipari called Michael last night and told him we will be able to meet the players and go to the shoot-around.”
“We are so overwhelmed at the joy that this story has brought to us, and we hope that we have brought joy to others.”
And so goes the story of Michael McGuire of Pikeville, Kentucky.
A hard-working husband and father with soot on his face and warmth in his heart.
The story of blue collar meeting Kentucky Blue.
And a picture that reminds us:
This is America.
#ShareTheGoodNews
*Thanks to Mollie McGuire and Sue Kinneer for the pictures
Kentucky Wildcats Kentucky Men's Basketball Southeastern Conference